S you ready. >> Thank you. >> Welcome to the third meeting of the year. Today is February 9th, 2026. Alyssa, can you please read the publication? >> In compliance with chapter 231, public love 1975. Notice of this meeting to be
held at the Criminal Justice Building, 61 Main Street, South River, has been published in the Home News Tribune on January 7th, 2026. posted on the municipal building bulletin board, the burough website, in the front door of the criminal justice building at 61 Main Street, South River. >> Roll call. >> Mayor Gindy
>> here. >> Councilwoman Dilva >> here. >> Councilman Donado >> here. >> Councilman Demian >> here. >> Councilman Janopolis >> here. >> Councilman Gchensky >> here. >> Council President Dantis >> here. >> Please stand for the salute to the flag.
Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Please stay standing for a moment of silence.
You may be seated. We have nothing for proclamations and honors uh agenda session. There are two for second reading and there's also two for first reading for uh 2026-1. Joe, can you uh >> Yes, this is the cap bank ordinance. Uh
this is an ordinance we do annually. Uh gives the borrow flexibility during the budget process. Uh this is an ordinance where if we don't use it, you get to bank it for two future years. And this helps us against inflation and and unforeseen costs that rise significantly. >> Okay. >> It's done annually. We do it every year.
>> Every year. Okay. Um Mr. Duca 2026-2, if you could uh chime on that one. >> Sure. Uh 2026-2 amends chapter 155 of the burough code to update and establish fees for various recreation programs. This is includes sports like baseball, basketball, soccer, and cheerleading, as
well as activities such as aerobics, art, and summer programs with additional charges for non-re uh non-residents and late registrants. It also introduces fees for athletic field lighting at $25 an hour and field usage ra ranging from
$25 to $200 uh per twoh hour increment depending on the field or the user type. Um, these charges aim to ensure sustainability of recreation activities while providing incentives like sibling discounts, free coach registrations, and credits for junior coaches to encourage
community participation. >> Thank you. Uh, for first reading, there are two as well. Uh, 2026-3, uh, Joe, >> the barriers uh, road improvement ordinance portion of Mercer Street, Lion
Street, Mitchell Avenue. Uh it's funded by partially funded by a New Jersey Department of Transportation grant 5858,753 and we also have a file that statement we did on time. >> Okay. And then 2026-4
uh John. >> Yep. So 2026-4 repeals the existing combined environmental commission shade tree advisory board and green team uh which is in chapter 22 of the burough code and it establishes two separate entities one being the environmental
commission/green team and the other being the shade tree advisory board. Uh what this ordinance will do is it will divide the all the existing responsibilities that that one entity does into two separate groups. Obviously
uh one the environmental commission and green team and the other the specifically focused on shade trees being the uh advisory board. Both boards or commissions will have similar makeup and bodies all appointed by the mayor. Uh this will include uh regular members, alternate members, junior members and
advisory consultants. Um the or the ordinance includes uh provisions such as maintaining records, uh keeping expenses uh penalties for violations and it will take effect upon passage of the ordinance. All right. Thank you. Melissa, can we start off with second uh reading of 2026-1?
>> Ordinance 2026-1, ordinance to exceed the municipal budget appropriation limits and to establish a cat bank for calendar year 2026. >> Like to open this Well, actually move it first. >> Motion. No, we got to
>> like to open this to the public. First call. Second call. >> Motion to close public. >> Second. Uh motion by council president Dennis, second by councilman Ginaopoulos. >> All in favor? >> I
council discussion. >> Do I have a motion? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Motion by council council president Dennis. Second by councilman Dian. >> Counciloman Dilva. >> Yes. Councilman Donado. >> Yes. >> Councilman Demian. Yes. >> Councilman Janopus.
>> Yes. >> Councilman Kensky. >> Yes. >> Council President Dantis. >> Yes. Alyssa 2026-2. >> Ordinance 2026-2, an ordinance of the Bureau of South River, County of Middle Sex, State of New Jersey, amending the burough code of the burrow of South River so as to amend chapter 155
entitled fees. >> Open like to open this to the public. First reading, first call. Second call. Motion to close public. >> Motion by Councilman Jacop. Second. >> Second by council president Dennis.
>> All in favor? I. >> Council discussion. >> Yes. I would like to uh just come in here. I've been involved with the youth sports and a lot of youth organizations for a long time. I'm proud of what the recreation department has built. Our fees are more than competitive. They're
very fair and if in most instances below what you would pay it in other towns for the product that you get. uh we continue to build the programs and give an even better product. So I'm proud of what we built and I stand behind the fees changing but understanding that costs do go up so we do need to amend some of the
fees. >> Thank you. Anything else council? >> Do I have a motion? >> Motion. >> Motion by council president Desanis. >> Second. >> Second by councilman Dian. >> Councilman Dilva. >> Yes. >> Councilman Donado. >> Yes. >> Councilman Demian. >> Yes. >> Councilman Janopus. Yes. Council
>> Gensky. Yes. >> Council President Dantis. >> Yes. Melissa, first reading 2026-3. >> Ordinance 2026-3, bond ordinance providing for improvements to various roads, appropriating $950,000,
therefore, and authorizing the issuance of $253,500 bonds and notes to finance a portion of the cost thereof authorized in and by the burrow of South River in the county of Middle Sex, New Jersey. I move that council pass ordinance 2026-3 on first
reading by title only and that the clerk be authorized to publish the same as required by law with the second reading and public hearing to be held at a meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 2nd, 2026 by video conference via Zoom or in the council chambers of the criminal
justice building at 61 Main Street in South New Jersey. Second. Motion by council president Demi. Uh, sorry, Danis. Second by Councilman Kosinsky. >> Counciloman Dilva. >> Yes. >> Councilman Donado. >> Yes. >> Councilman Damian. >> Yes. >> Councilman Janicopolis. >> Yes.
>> Councilman Kchensky. >> Yes. >> Council President Dantis. >> Yes. >> Uh, Alyssa 2026-4. >> Ordinance 2026-4. An ordinance of the bureau of South River, county of Middle Sex, state of New Jersey, repealing and replacing chapter 22, article 4,
sections 22-18 through 22-18.12 of the Burough Code to establish separate environmental commission/green Team and Shade Tree Advisory Board. I move that council pass ordinance 2026-4 on its first reading by title only and that the clerk be authorized to
publish the same as is required by law with the second reading and public hearing to be held at a meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 2nd, 2026 by video conference via Zoom or in the council chambers of the criminal justice building at 61 Main Street in South New Jersey.
>> Second motion by Council President Danis, seconded by Councilman Kosinsky. Councilwoman Dilva, >> yes. >> Councilman Donado, >> yes. >> Councilman Demian, >> yes. >> Councilman Janna Copolis, >> yes. >> Councilman Gchensky, >> yes. >> Council President Dantis, >> yes.
>> All right, we're going to go to reports. Uh Justin C. >> Thank you, Mayor. A brief update on the capital projects taking place in the burrow for the 2023 and 2024 local aid program. Contractor has completed the work. The DOT issued a minor punch list, which if the snow ever melts, they'll complete and we can submit for project
closeout. the 2023 local transportation project grant. The DOT approved the project. It's currently being bid for advertisement and that bid opening is scheduled February 18th at 10 a.m. for the 2025 local aid program. Uh the project D design has been completed and
submit to the DOT. We receive minor comments and again if the snow ever melts melts, we'll be able to check those items in the field and finalize design. The 2025 electrical substation maintenance. A pre-construction meeting was held at the end of January and work is expected to begin early spring. The
2026 local aid pro program, the bur received over half a million dollar grant for the design of Mercer Street, Lion Street, and Mitchell Avenue. And our office submitted a proposal for design. And then I just like like to let the public know that on February 18th at 4 PM in the municipal building, there
will be a conference open to the public to discuss the community block community development brock block grant which gives the bureau an opportunity to submit for um an award of uh an award for community block in uh in certain areas in town.
>> Okay, that's all. Thank you. >> Council discussion. Uh no Joe CFO >> two first one is adopting a p purchasing manual uh last meeting you approved the QPA here designed the purchasing manual for everyone to follow so all the
department approved today we'll get this and that's the procedure we all have to follow in the grant agreement for the $1 million $20 grant for better park we'll do a resolution approve it accept it
>> council discussion I have a question for you. >> Last year, I know our health benefits went up uh about 19.5. >> What is it this year? >> 25.25%. >> Got to love it.
>> Plus, the state of New Jersey though, so we're not with the state of New Jersey, we're on all state was 36%. So, >> and the state was already higher. So, their base was higher to begin with. And the percentage increase makes it a bigger gap.
over a million dollar not >> going to be an impact on this town. >> Excuse me. Could I just Did you say our our insurance went up by 25%? >> 25.25%. >> Is that Is there a number attached to that? >> Yeah, we're discussing >> roughly
>> probably about a half a million dollars. So, we're getting a half a million dollar increase in insurance that we really have no choice but to got to swallow it one way or another. Yep. Okay.
All right. Thank you. >> Age DPW. >> Yes. Uh, next Monday we'll be >> okay. Okay. Council discussion.
>> Fire chiefs. >> We're right around 15 for the year. Everything is kind of has a fire hydrant on their property kindly. Please for us it will help us out a lot.
that much longer that we have to wait that's going to be a fire or whatever like that you know they don't have to do that right make access so that we can get to it >> one other thing Um, the ladies auxiliary
is having a fundraiser for themselves at February 25th. Also, order online. It's on our website. Uh, I'm going to put it back. It was on, but it's going to be on our the fire
department. If you could guys support the ladies, please help us and keep us hydrated. We have a lot behind the scene that people
some nights they're there just as long as we are. possible. >> Thank you. Discussion council >> Mr. Duca. >> No report tonight. Mayor, thank you. >> Alissa, >> uh just to remind everybody that uh March 1st um all public notices will go
on the Burough website. Um I've been working with Adam who does our website. He created the hyperlink for us. So, it's going to be on the bur website on the left side under quick links. It'll just say public notices and that's where all of them will go on March 1st. >> Thank you,
Chief SLMBA. Mayor, I don't have anything for the agenda, but I do have a couple things. Uh, the police department's hiring for special law enforcement class one specials. So, for anybody that's interested in that position, um the academy, which is usually held in East
Brunswick, it is a Kate May County off-site facility, uh academy, uh that's coming up in in May sometime. So, the flyers for the SLE ones are going to be coming out and the applications can be picked up here within the next week. All right. Uh the other thing that we're
hiring is for school crossing guards. We have a shortage of school crossing guards. Um, it's a full-time/partime position. The hours are 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon. So, anybody that's interested in applying for that position, uh, please come down to Burough Hall and pick up
that application. Uh, right now we're short two spots. Um, the other things that I have is, uh, uh, a couple years ago, we bonded for the upgrades and dispatch for the radios and for the computers computer system. Uh, that's coming through fruition. That's, uh,
going to be done. Um on February 18th is our tenative date that we're looking to move back. We're right now we're down at the EOC uh down at the DPW. Um but the furniture, the radios, uh just the computer system is what needs to be moved and then we can move move back
here into the building. So uh thank you to uh to Austin Emergency Management for allowing us to be down there for the six weeks that we've been down there. And and finally for the snowstorm, I just I just want to thank the um the the OEM coordinator, Pierce Fansky, who's behind me, uh for a job well done, and for the
fire department, the fire chief, uh for the DPW for for what what happened during a snowstorm. Um it's probably the most snow that we've had in in probably decades. And uh the all the um the
public safety uh mission was was was good good because we we didn't skip a beat. Um we had all of our police trucks going into the fire department where they actually washed off the trucks. All the road department guys went in there. They washed off the trucks. Uh OEM
provided for food. Um so it it the mission the mission was complete and if anybody that live didn't live around here needed to stay, we had the hotel room ready for them. So, um, it was good. The snowstorm worked out really good. >> Okay. >> That's that's all I have.
>> Thank you. >> All right. We're going to start with council comments or well, reports. Uh, Councilman Kosinsky. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh, the Office on Aging. Uh, also at the beginning of the month, they
require you to actually update and check your um, information that they have just in case of an emergency or anything else, your contact and what have you. Um, they have the burrow calendars there. Uh, and they also have the tax
preparation and they're going to be at two different places this year at the East Brunswick uh, public library and Spotswood office on aging. Um, al that's by AA, USAA is the sponsor on that. They
also have an easy pass senior discount program going too that you can inquire with down at the office on aging. And with that, that's all I have right now. Mayor, >> thank you, Councilwoman. >> Um, I have a couple things. Um, our annual rabies clinic will be held
Saturday, March 28th. um 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. for dogs and 2 to 2:30 uh for cats. Um it'll be held at the public works uh department which is 9 Ivan Way. Uh it's open to all residents of New Jersey. Um dog and cat laces will be
sold there u for South River residents only. Um the South River trap and neuter uh return program is collecting donations of cat and kitten food. Um you could bring any unopened dryer wet food to the clinic to help support that program that day. Um also reminder that
um with the times being hard, the food bank at 98 Jackson Street is open two times a week up until March. Um you can check the burough website for any information or contact them directly. Also wanted to mention that our library is offering many programs for both
adults and children. So, be sure to check out their website for any information. They offer a lot of programs. And then finally, the Cultural Arts and Heritage Commission is planning on continuing the flag raising at Delly's Pond this year. Um, they welcome all residents to get involved. Flag
raising request forms can be found on our burough website or also by contacting the Cultural Arts and Heritage Commission directly. It's a great event um to, you know, celebrate your heritage. uh all are welcome and we have a town full of different heritage and backgrounds and communities and I
think it's nice to celebrate them all. So something to think about. Um it is free to register for it. So I do uh encourage everybody to go out and uh register for it. And with that, mayor, that's all I have today. >> Thank you, Councilman Dean.
>> Thank you, Mayor. Um the board of ed, the preschool enrollment is now open. This is a full day preschool program available at no cost to South River residents who are three and four years old. Children must have turned three by
October 1st, 2026. The registration flyer is listed on the South River Board of Ed website. You can also call 9086138305 to enroll your child. Um the budget committee currently meeting um to
finalize this year's budget with Joe. We've been uh having meetings and we'll have some more. And that's all I have. Mayor, >> thank you. Councilman Gina Compass. >> Yes, Mayor. Um the economic development committee is having a meeting this Wednesday,
the uh 18th. It's in the uh senior center upstairs in the conference room. Um, one of the things we're working on and I think uh they're really happy to introduce is a farmers market. We're planning on doing a farmers market on Sundays and it's going to be between the hours
of 11 and three. We're still, you know, we're still debating on exactly where and when, but we're thinking it, you know, if everything works out, we might be able to do it in the uh municipal parking lot on Obert Street. and uh we're going to be looking for vendors
for that. So, that's something exciting coming up. Um the shade and uh environmental uh tree and shade committee is having a meeting Thursday, February 19th at 48 Washington. All are welcome for that. Um this year we are
going to be pretty ambitious about it. We're planning to plant um a lot of trees in town and really beautify this town with uh trees and that is coming this year. And uh that's something we're committed to. And if anyone wants to be a part of that, that meeting is going to
be this uh this next Thursday, not this Thursday, but uh Thursday the 19th of February. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilman Donado. >> Um not much to report. I'm still trying to get a hold of uh >> some of the uh some of these committees.
In fact, uh I got a call from one that I was supposed to be I was supposedly supposed to be on which I hope you will appoint me to. Um but uh right now I'm trying to concentrate on the cable television advisory board because that seems to be in the shambles right now. >> Okay.
>> So I'm hoping to get some um some headway on that. Other than that, everybody else told you everything that you >> I could expect. You're getting there slowly but surely. >> Yeah. Council President,
>> thank you, Mayor. Uh, for recreation advisory board, registration is open for Zumba, and classes are Mondays and Wednesdays from 600 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. They'll start on March 2nd and go through April 1st. Registration will be open soon for our spring activities, which include T-ball, baseball,
softball, and flag football. They're also going to be looking to add a chess program where they'll have an instructor who will teach the children that want to learn how to play the game of chess. Uh you can visit the burough website for more details under register www.south rivernj.org. Click departments then parks and
recreation and you'll see a link to enroll. If any issues online, you can call the office at 732254-4412. For upcoming events, we have our last home wrestling match this Thursday, the 12th, in the high school gym. 6:15 p.m. start. And the Easter egg hunt will be
held on March 21st with a rain date of March 28th. And the next recreation advisory board meeting will be Monday, March 9th at 6 p.m. at 55 Re Street. Residents are welcome and encouraged to attend. As far as the budget committee, Councilman Demian, Councilman Donado,
and myself are part of the budget committee this year. Uh we've already talked about some of the things that are going to come up that are hurdles that we will have to clear. Um it's not going to be easy, but we're taking our time to go through everything line by line and make sure that we
continue to offer great value to our residents, whether it becomes services or programs. And I think at the end of the day, these new problems need new solutions, and we're going to continue to work on them as a council. Uh Mr. Zanga here is is as good
as it gets and I believe that wholeheartedly. I've heard it from many different people through the years and I I see him in action is wonderful. So, uh please trust us and we're doing our best and we're going to have another meeting this week and we'll continue to work for you on the budget. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I'll hold off my comments. I will like
to open this to the public. Five minutes. Please state your name and your address. My friend's in the audience right now. grill 20 minutes away. Uh you said last meeting it was about safety that you closed Collins Drive.
Collins Drive is roughly about 1,200 ft long but now it's down about 1,000 ft long with the last 200 feet. Used to be one way and now the mayor closed it. You was it for safety for people? Was that the only reason for people going the wrong
way on the the street? >> I've already had you my conversation with you multiple times, sir. >> Was it or was it not? I mean I mean that's what I I remember. That's what my notes said. I just want to confirm that because I'm a little confused because >> indirectly you're saying the police
couldn't handle it. >> I'm saying that that road has been closed for a reason. And the reason was that road was not supposed to exist. Now I know we had this discussion multiple times. I've shown you all the pictures. I've shown you all the paperwork. >> I've seen the pictures, >> okay,
>> and all that. And my thought was, you know, the road was open for like over 22 years. Town, the council, the planning board, required Masselon Munford, the builder
of Heritage Landing to build that road. Why? Who would ask anybody to spend $10,000 or better to put 200 feet of road in with sidewalks, curving, and and uh landscaping
and give up selling a house where they could have made another 40, 50, $70,000? I mean, it wasn't built this uh oh, for the hell of it. So, I mean, it may have started out that way, but you never showed me
the paperwork for what it was. You just said it was. That's all. Two, if it's only for people going the wrong way, why didn't you take license plate numbers and uh do something about the bad drivers? You worried, you told me you're worried
about a some kids getting hit from wrongway drivers. I think I remember I think it's in my notes someplace here. But uh he did nothing about him. I mean he if I was the mayor I would have got
some license in place and given it to police chief and asked him pay him a friendly visit says hey you've been observed going the wrong way. You know it's time to grow up and uh be responsible citizen. Bottom line is it's costing me money.
I'm a senior citizen on a fixed income. This cost me $150 more to go around just on trips. Only two things free in life. Someone else pays for it and problems.
>> Thank you. I'll see you March 2nd is my next meeting. >> I'll see you soon. >> Please state your name. >> Eric. My name is Chuck Binger. I live at 33 Terry Avenue. I'm on a corner of Coen and Terry. The last time I was here was
the night they had to vote to close Colin Drive. Coland Drive was put in in 1965. And from 1965 to 1997, it was closed. It was a dead-end street on both ends. I bought my house in 1990. And when I moved in, most of the people who were
there were the original owners of those houses. There was a lot of older people there. It was a nice quiet neighborhood. The whole reason I bought my house is because it was on a dead-end street and the hours I worked on my job I was sleeping during the day a lot and where I lived was noisy. So my whole purpose for buying that house was because it was
on a dead end street. Then in 1996 about we get noticed that the property behind us was sold and Matel and Mumford bought it and they were going to put 140 houses behind me. We tried to stop it. You can't stop it in New Jersey. New Jersey the builders have all the rights in New Jersey. I have to get a permission from
my neighbors to put a fence around my property, but a builder can walk in from out of town and put 140 houses in and the neighbors can say nothing about it. We We gave the builder a hard time. He left five houses out. So, it's 135 houses back there. There was supposed to be a house where Coen Drive is. He left
five houses out behind my house and my four neighbors house because that was the biggest section of woods basically to keep us quiet because we were fighting the complex being built. I sued town because Mr. Rackenback who was the head of the planning board at the time all of a sudden when everything was said and done said they want to put
coland driveth through my neighbors said no we don't want it all of us everybody signed a petition that we did not want that road put through because it was going to ruin our neighborhood it was nice and quiet up there we went to court it was it was a fortune to go to court one time it was like $5,000
went to court the first time the judge basically blew us off because he didn't want to deal with it was going to cost me another $5,000 to go to court again so the builder came up to me because the judge stopped all building in Heritage Landing because of the lawsuit against the property and the builder was mad at
me. He was going to sue me because over a year all the houses were sold. He couldn't build anything because of the lawsuit. So he said, "If I can make an agreement with the town to make it a one-way street, would you accept that?" Unfortunately, I was out of work at the time because I hurt my back. I couldn't afford the lawyer anymore. They didn't
know that. So I just grudgingly accept the agreement because I couldn't go to court again. I couldn't afford to go to court. We accepted it and the day I was I was still home when they finished building the extension. No sooner did the paving trucks leave, they had barricades across the road
because the road had to be inspected by the DOT before they opened it. People were moving the barricades and coming out the wrong way. I had to call the police. The police came up and the town came up and they put heavier barricades until the road got officially inspected. That road has been a disaster since the day it was open. half the people going
through there. The the problem with the road is Gladstone up on if you know up on old bridge turnpike. Gladstone goes into East Brunswick. East Brunswick overbuilt that whole area down there on river with all those houses. The traffic backs up on Old Bridge turnpike at night
because everybody's trying to turn left on the Glaststone. Well, as soon as those people in um East Brunswick found out Coen Drive was open, we started having hundreds of cars coming through my neighborhood every night. And then they started coming out the wrong way. I didn't realize how bad the problem was till about a year ago. I put security
cameras around my house day, night, midnight, two o'clock in the morning, I have cars coming out going the wrong way. I sent the mayor over 200 videos of cars coming out of going the wrong way. That was in a month. We were told when we settled that, oh, you have 20 to 30 cars a day going
through there. There's hundreds of cars going through there and most of them are East Brunswick residents. Mr. Rakenback wanted that road put through. As we found out later, it was a promise to the East Brunswick Democrat Society. We found the letter in the town paperwork in the council meetings. The only reason
that road is put through there is for East Brunswick. Why is a a a member of the town planning board for South River working for East Brunswick residents against the residents of South River? We had everybody in my neighborhood didn't want that road put through. And he opened, oh, what about safety? The
police chief came, Chief Iva at the time. He said, "It's going to cause a huge traffic problem because of where it's at. We're not going to be able to patrol it. It's out in the middle of nowhere. You're going to have problems." He told Mr. Rackenback, "Do not open that road." He refused to listen to him.
About a few months after the road was open, I called the mayor because I kept calling the police. I understand South River Small, there's not that many police cars on the road at one time. You can't have someone stationed there 24 hours at this. It's I mean, I understand that. >> Mayor Zagetti at the time, he didn't
want the road open. He had the police um the traffic safety officer set up a little sting up there. They were up there for 40 hours, two weeks, four hours a day, Monday through Friday. Unfortunately, they came the same four hours. The same people come through every day. So once you get them the first two days, you're not going to get
anymore. For 40 hours, they caught 25 cars going the wrong way out of a one-way street. 25 cars in 40 hours. And like I said, I didn't realize how bad the problem was until I put my cameras up. All night construction. We had school buses coming out of there with full of kids going the wrong way.
We called the school bus companies. When the neighbors and me whenever we saw a commercial vehicle, we'd call the company and report them. I the police probably knew me by name. I was calling them every other day, but there's not I mean you obviously you can't have someone there 24/7. Now this has been a
great success since that road's closed. It's a nice quiet neighborhood again. It's safe again. Our quality of life is more important than somebody needing to take a two-minute shortcut to get home. And if the people in Heritage Landing don't realize it, it's helped them a lot too because half the people coming through there were going right through
Heritage Landing out to River Road to East Brunswick. So Heritage Landing has a lot less traffic on their road now because that road is closed. >> Thank you. >> I appreciate it. Thank you. Chiefs. >> Gentlemen. Gentlemen. Gentlemen.
>> What's the guy's name? Uh, no more. Sorry. Thank you. Go ahead, Mr. Hutcherson. >> Good evening. Jim Hutcherson, 38 Virginia Street. Uh, just one add-on to that last comment. Just want to say that the in the last four and a half years,
the office on aging bus driver when in fact he was bringing the South River seniors through that area only went the one way when it was open. I never went the wrong way. Just want to say that. >> Um, put that on record. Okay.
>> No smiling back there. Okay. First off, snow removal. I agree 100% with what um uh our chief interba has stated um and others. When you look at New York City and the mounds of snow with garbage on
top and so forth, thank God we're in South River and thank God we have the people here working who do the job that they do. Great job everybody. It's the town really uh did a great job on a on a really tough snowstorm. So great job. Just a couple questions on the consent
resolutions on 202679 the turf field at Veterans Park. Um, understand this is a county grant. >> Correct. >> I know in the past sometimes when you had county grants, the county then takes
control of the field. They almost like assume ownership. Then all of a sudden it's like you have to go through the county to schedule the fields and so forth. And this is now the second turf field, not the first turf field. The second turf field because we have the one at the high school off at Johnson.
Um, what is there going to be any restrictions on this that the county is going to now take over scheduling? >> I had the opportunity to read through that grant and the county does not control that piece of property. >> Good. I just want to make sure that we we maintain >> the only property that they own well technically control is Grocowski Park.
>> Okay. >> And the scheduling is still done by the burrow either way from a scheduling perspective with first write or refusal. They have county yet residents have access to the field to utilize it, but it scheduling is still done locally. Otherwise, it'd be a nightmare. Nobody would know what >> Absolutely. Because again, I've I've
heard horror stories where again, burrows, towns, whatever, have had the county come in with a grant, all of a sudden they lost total control of everything, which can be a huge problem. Um the other two 202686 and 202687 associated with the redevelopment for
202686 specifically um for the uh redevelopment of the property there uh for Virginia and Alborne Street. Who owns that property now? >> There's a private equity uh >> I don't know the name of the company itself but they own it.
>> Is that do you know is it an apartment company like an LLC? >> I have no idea. >> Okay. Um, and as far as that's concerned, I know we're looking to begin a study on that. And obviously any studies, whatever, we're going to be taking on money. What happens if we do a
study and in the end we don't develop it? It would just we've done a study, there's obviously been money spent from the burrow. What happens at the end if >> So for Alborne Street, since somebody actually owns it, they would take on the cost. >> So the owner, the ownership would take on the cost.
>> Oo, we own. >> Okay. So if we do a study on somebody buys it, >> we don't do anything way then we eat that. Correct. Okay. All right. >> But let's just say somebody buys Woji Way, they would they would take on the expense. >> Okay. >> And keep keep in mind having the knowledge of what can or can't be done or could it's important down the road.
Right. >> So whenever we do these studies, we're trying to be as comprehensive as possible to have a full vision of future. So people can look back at a study from 2026 and say this was or wasn't allowed and here's why. And it becomes future knowledge for the future basically. >> Future decisions.
>> Absolutely. Yeah. and through your chair, if I could address Councilman Donado. Sure. >> Councilman Donado, I just want to compliment you on your uh review of those two resolutions at the first time we talked about it at last meeting and
utilizing your experience, your knowledge and uh the years that you have dealing in that field. Your explanation was excellent and I just want to thank you. That was a great great uh 10 plus minutes that you spent. I could have
listened to you for a lot longer, but again, I compliment you. That was great. That was a very very good explanation. I appreciate that and I'm sure the residents do too. Thank you, sir. Um, another thing that I' I've come up here and I just want to qualify exactly what
I've said about future uh having more meetings and so forth. I didn't really mean having more meetings. I meant having more time for the public. One of the things is and it's apparent tonight the public two gentlemen before me and
now me and anybody after me has five minutes to talk before a lot of business is transacted and then after the business is transact transacted council comments adjournment meeting's over public can't then comment on anything
that's associated with transactions that have taken place >> Mr. and go going back in time when when I sat up there, we always had like 10 minutes to talk about agenda items only and then at the end there was 10 minutes on the good and welfare of the burrow.
What I'd like to recommend is that we update our format here and we have five minutes for agenda items only in the beginning of the meeting like now and then at the end add another five minutes if we want to just hold it to five minutes for the good and welfare of the
bureau so that the public has an opportunity to chime in after the fact and I would recommend that that be added as the last mention of business so that the public always has the last voice. Mr. Hutcherson, your five your five
minutes is just about up. >> Mr. Hur, >> ever since your last count, ever since last council meeting, I have spoken to the attorney as well as Alyssa along with most of the council in regards of actually adding the agenda agenda
session, sorry, the consent consent resolutions only public hearing and then after the consent resolutions have been done, then we would go into the good of welfare. So, I'm looking into the burough uh council rules first before we can actually move on that. >> I think it's a great idea.
>> Okay. So, adding five minutes before and five minutes after. Okay. >> Yeah. But if you noticed the last past two people that spoke, I didn't really restrict you five minutes. >> Okay. >> If you get out of hand, then I'm going to tell you you got five minutes. >> You're at six and a half right now. >> Okay. Then I can stretch it even more.
Um not sure if you're going to talk about any of the cons like you and I had a a conversation about some of the consent like one consent resolution last meeting and reading them out loud and so forth. So I don't know if you want to address that. >> We already took care of that. >> Okay. I don't know if we want to make any kind of announcement to the public though. Okay. Thank you. Have a good
evening. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else from the public? First call. Second call. >> Motion to close. Second, please. >> Motion by council president. Oh, Councilman Kashinsky by Council
Kosinsk's first motion and second by Council President Desanis. >> All in favor? >> I. >> All right. Melissa, consent resolutions, please. >> Whereas resolutions 2026-01
authorizes the burough council to utilize a consent agenda to adopt various resolutions of a routine and non-controversial nature at one time. Now therefore be it is hereby resolved that the below listed resolutions are hereby adopted by the burough council in whole as if the same were individually
acted upon. Consent resolutions 202676 to 202691. 76 authorizing the South River Fire Department to conduct a boot drive. 77 authorizing the requisition of funds for payment to the custodia of the school monies. 78 adopting a purchasing manual.
79 authorizing the ex execution of a grant agreement. 80. Appointment of health benefits risk manager. 81. Resolution authorizing an emergency temporary municipal budget. 82. Amend public agency compliance officer. 83.
Authorize student utility refunds. 84. Accept January 19, 2026 meeting minutes. 85. Authorize the bills and claims list. 86. Resolution determining Alborne Woods needs redevelopment. 87. Resolution determining Wuji Way
needs redevelopment. 88. Appointing municipal court judge. 89. Authorizing various agreements with AE on-site partners LLC. 90. Authorizing the tax assessor to file an assessor's appeal. 91. Appointing special counsel conflict attorney.
>> What is your motion? Motion to adopt. Motion by Council President Dennis. >> Second. >> Second by Councilman Demian. >> Councilwoman Dilva. >> Yes. >> Councilman Donado. >> Yes. with the exception of 86 and 87
based on my uh comments made the January 19th meeting and unanswered questions. >> Councilman Demian, >> yes. >> Councilman Janicopolis, >> yes. >> Councilman Gchensky, >> yes. >> Council President Dantis,
>> yes. Uh with an abstension on number 85 from 26-00318. I will be opening it up to the council comments. Starting off with Councilman Donado. Oh. Um, comments. Okay. First, the DPW did a
great job as far as I'm concerned with the uh their plowing. I noticed the streets that didn't have vehicles on it, they were plowed a lot better, which makes sense. I've seen since then going throughout town a lot of them the vehicles haven't even been moved and they're still blocked in and people are
complaining not a lot but enough that they're not doing their job. They are doing their job. They're doing their job better than I would have normally anticipated uh them being able to do and they're still doing it. People have to have a little patience. Yes. Others are not patient enough. And when you're
going down these streets, you got people parked out in the middle of the roads. Why? There's snow piled along the side, sometimes those vehicles are parked on top of the snow. And as I said in a uh my statement I made on Facebook, oh god
help us. Um what do you want the police to do? Start ticketing everybody who's parked that way and tow them all the way. I don't want to see that, but I don't want people parked there either. So have a little patience. Give somebody else the room. Even if they want to take the room and take the uh take their turn
first, let them go. It's not worthwhile having a stroke or a heart attack about. Just be be very careful, especially for people who are walking. Things will get better as the days go by. They're out there doing the best they possibly can with what they've got to work with. So,
I commend them for all the work they've done, and I'm really proud of the people that work for this burrow. They're all very conscientious, which is what I would expect in all my years of government service. That's what I expect from the people that work for the people, and that's what we get here at
South River. Um, second thing, uh, seems to be some kind of confusion about me wanting to gather get more information about these resolutions. I spoke to the mayor and they somebody's under the impression
that I don't realize that we can't have backdoor meetings to make uh determinations. I know that I've been in government service for 55 years. So, I'm not even not even going to I wouldn't even approach that idea. And if I give it to anybody that that's what I was thinking
about doing, you're wrong. I'm sorry. I gave you misunderstood my intention. I want the information. I'm a licensed professional in the state of New Jersey and I know what it is to sign any document. I have to know what the heck I'm talking
about. As I spoke to the mayor tonight, I explained that to him. So, whatever it takes to put that uh resolution together, how it started, why we need it, where are the documents that are based on the why that resolution was put together and and presented for uh
approval by the council. I want that information. I want to review it and I want every council member to also have that information and review it if they would like. The decision on whether we vote yes or no or abstain is going to be
based on all the information we can possibly get. So we know basically, pardon my French, what the hell we're doing. And if member of the public asked me a question, my answer should be the same as if they asked the mayor. And unless we're on the same page, we
understand what's going on. There's no way we're going to explain anything to the public and they know when they get the BS. They're not dumb. They're very smart. One thing I've learned over all the years, they appreciate honesty,
transparency, and the honest effort to help. That's what we're here to do. That's what I'm trying to do. So with the information with these consenting resolutions and others, there's things that are just normal everyday house cleaning, housekeeping,
you pay the bills. I know that. No big deal. But when you're talking about taxpayers money and doing things with taxpayers property, I want to know the facts. I want to have everything possible to make my decision the best I can. Am I always right? Heck no. But I'm
not always wrong. So, with that being said, I hope I cleared up any misunderstandings of anybody. And uh, by the way, I've gotten calls uh from a few people want to know if I have anything to do with
the parking authority. And I said, because I'm on two committees that are utilities involved, the word utilities seems to be very popular. And I'm honest with him, I said, I quite don't know. I know there used to be a parking authority in South
River that was dissolved in case you didn't know and the documentation is filed in the Middle Sex County Clerk's Office. So what we do in place of that I'm not sure but uh whatever the problems are we
we're all going to work to resolve as much as we possibly can and uh we're going to work together as a team. So with that being said please be careful out there. Um, and oh, by the way, and thank you to
uh my friend Councilman DeSantis for mentioning about these senior citizens. I actually had somebody for the first time in my life come and uh with their snowblower do my sidewalk and my driveway, which I was shocked. I was usually the
one to do it. I've got two I got two snowblowers at home. I can't get either one of them to start. So, I feel like a dummy. I got to do something about that. I did get a phone number of someone I'm going to be calling. But right now, in order to get to him, I got to dig them out. So,
that'll probably be in the next few weeks, hopefully. Uh, but please be careful out there. Let you know. See me, you have questions, you have concerns, come. It may not be committee I'm on, but I'm a councilman, therefore I'll try
to help you any way I can. Thank you very much. again. Be careful and take care. >> Mr. Donado, when you get a chance, see Joe tomorrow or whenever you have an opportunity to talk about the parking authority. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> I told you I was going to direct you.
Councilman Joplas. >> Yes. Thank you, mayor. Um I just wanted to say thank you to the DPW for everything they did with the snow. And just to re reiterate um what the director said, they're still working on a lot of the snow and they're still
moving stuff like you said on David Street and Arlington and all that and they're going to back around over to Jeffrey and Mera and all those spots. So they are still working. They did a great job and I wanted to compliment that they all worked together. the police department, the fire department, the
DPW, they were one solid team, each helping each other and it was a just a great job and I'd like to thank you guys for that. Um, the other thing was uh Oh, nothing. Just uh what is it? We're closed this coming
Monday, President's Day. And I just wanted to wish everyone a happy Valentine's Day. That's all I got. Thank you, >> Councilman Zimia. >> Thank you, Mayor. Yes, I'm going to echo also the uh with the snowstorm the DPW even though it's already been mentioned
um just briefly say that a few people came to me um and had said with the snow piled up they are going out and removing that as best they can in certain sections of town starting first by the school and then removing the big piles
as they can and get to the other side streets so they're aware of it and they're going to get to those side streets as quick as they can um attended the VFW's breakfast uh the other day. That was a wonderful event that they had. Um was well
attended. Um the next Imperial Music Center concert will be on Sunday, March 1st at 2:00. It's free to the public. It's a wonderful event. They do it each month. Um the next one is March 1st. And
go there and attend and listen to some music. It's a lot of fun. That's all I have. Mayor, >> thank you. Councilwoman Silva. >> Um, well, everybody said it. I'm gonna say it again. Great job to DBW. I mean, the streets I I couldn't have asked for more. I mean, there is snow still out
there, but that's expected with all the snow we had. Um, just want to remind the residents, please be careful, especially at night. Some of this stuff is melting during the day. At night, it's freezing. I've watched a couple of the cars already down Whitehead Avenue turning onto my street. um nearly missed and
sideswipe the cars that are parked on the side street. Just be careful out there. Um also wanted to reiterate what I said last time about being here to help the residents of this town and we can't help if you don't come out and voice your concerns. Um during the snow,
um there was a lot of keyboard warriors out there on social media. Um I myself reached out to a couple of them and uh along with our mayor, we handle it ourselves. We're here to help. We can only help if you voice your concerns. I
wish it wasn't on social media. Some of you can be not so nice on there and you're quick to blame people that are not to blame. Um, but reach out to us. We all have emails. We have phone numbers. Uh, reach out to us and we will
address you. Um, I addressed it within the first 5 minutes and we took care of the problem within 24 hours. So, we are there to help. So, just reach out to us and again, just be safe out there. We're a small community. We're family. Like President Dantis has said, we are
family. We're small. Um, but we can't help if we don't know. And that's all. >> Councilman Kosinsky. >> Thank you, Mayor. First off, I'd like to thank our police department, our DPW, and Robert Wood Johnson and our fire department for all the work that they do
to protect and save us and anything else. Uh, especially the DPW. They did an extraordinary job. This is the coldest stamp we've had in quite a while. And uh they've done an outstanding job. I believe, you know, we've been able to move through the streets. We have to give a little bit
more caution to because there are some narrow ways and everything too. And some of the people even though they park on the side of the road, they park 3 ft away from the curb. So they constrict the roadway a little bit more. Um, with that, uh, that's about all I have aside
from parents, be aware the state has passed laws on the ebikes and e- scooters and everything else, too. Um, there are going to be regulations and everything following it. And, uh, right now they're a little bit lax, but
people always wondered and they always asked about this, too. And just be aware some of these people that are on these scooters and bicycles. They are avoiding the potholes just as much as we are in the vehicles. And just we're a small town. We've got 25 miles an hour. Just
watch out because they you never know when they'll turn in front of you. >> With that, that's all I have. Mayor, thank you. Stay safe. Stay warm. >> Council President Sanders. >> Yes. I wanted to make everyone aware of a new nonprofit that's been created in town called the Friends of South Recreation. So, they're able to fund
raise and have events and then donate the proceeds back to the youth sports in town. Uh the the fundraising could be specific to a sport or it could be in general. This allows us to offer again more programs and just do more for for the residents. Uh we'll be going to
local businesses and doing a lot of different things with fundraising. So, their first meeting for they're trying to drive membership and have people to get involved is this Wednesday, the 11th at 6:30 p.m. at 55 Reed Street. If you're interested in donating, you're interested in helping, being involved,
show up. Um, they'll continue to post and have more events. Um, I know no one's brought up the snow yet, but I just want to hit on that. Uh, I think it's important to understand that the amount of snow that you get and the temperatures after the snow are very important to the cleanup effort. So,
getting over 8 in of snow and then having sub freezing almost zero degree temperatures since then, it's a nightmare. It doesn't move. It's frozen tight. It's a lot different than powdery fluffy 3 in where you take your shovel and just push it around. The bottom of every driveway has the two pillars of
snow because you clean your apron, there's nowhere to put it. I do have a fire hydrant in front of my house that I clear 3 ft in each direction. So, my dad showed me back the first time I ever shoveled and I've been doing it ever since. Um, it's important that we all chip in. Um, Sandra mentioned the
keyboard warriors. I may see a post on Facebook that talks about a street or a house and I'll give a a call and he's like, "Oh yeah, we already we we spoke to that person earlier today because the post was from eight hours ago." Social media may be an effective way in your head to get word
out, but it is not an effective way to communicate and solve problems. It's not efficient. Uh it creates tangents. People go into another direction. It also is combative because there are people who support and come back at residents who complain and then there's two residents going at each other that
both want the snow to be cleared. Facebook does not have a shovel, doesn't have a snow plow, you can't fix a water mane, can't put your power back on. We have a crew, a great crew led by Age that does that. Reach out to any of us and we will get it done as fast as possible. I can assure you the last
thing any of us or age or his team wants is to hear the complaints because they're trying to avoid the complaints. It's not that they don't want to hear it. Their job is to go out there and make sure you don't complain. They can't see every corner of the town. Communicate, overcommunicate, and
they'll continue to overperform. And I believe that. So, thank you. >> Thank you. All right. So, here it goes. First things first, consent resolutions. Uh, as Mr. Hutcherson brought to our attention in regards of having more
meetings. I agree with him that we should have more vocal when it comes down to the residents actually speaking. Now, the reason I say that is consent resolutions as as you seen at the last council meeting um at the last minute,
we ended up adding a consent resolution. The reason for that was because we were unsure of what was going to happen at the last hour. For example, today you're going to have executive session at 2026-92.
If action is going to take place, then there's a chance you're going to have 202693 and 202694. And the reason being is because that means we would be taking action. In our case, the last meeting uh 2026-75,
the action that we took that day was we ended up having an interim BA put in, which is Mr. tenin again. So, we couldn't act on it and put it on the agenda like you don't see it at this point, which I agree with you. I agree. But what we will be doing uh so
everybody could voice their opinion is we will have a section just for consent resolution public hearing only. Then we will after the consent resolutions have been read and voted upon, we would have good and welfare. So at least now we have an understanding over the consent
resolutions. Not only that, but the last meeting, the reason the consent resolutions were not read read separately is because of it was so long that by law we were allowed to at least give it to you as one lump sum. That was the only reason. Today it was brought to
my attention that can we do it alum one lump sum. I asked her if she could at least read it out today until we changed the agenda. So we are trying to be as vocal and transparent as we can to the residents. Second, we have been talking about the
snow. I'm going to start off by thanking OEM for a remarkable job getting us all together, all your first responders, our department of public works, um, from fire to police to rescue and briefing us
on exactly what we are going to experience at the last snowfall. And it took teamwork and Mr. Skansky, I have to thank you for what you did >> to put this together. and we executed it in one hell of a good fashion. Excuse my language. And the reason I'm saying that
is because I got very very irritated over social media on how people were downgrading the Department of Public Works or the police department or at times I even heard something from the fire department and that is that you don't realize that this town has well
over 60 miles of street. So that means when a plow is coming down your road, the likelihood of them coming back to your road is probably somewhere in the end of the day depending on how much work they have and how much snow they got to push. The other thing that
you don't understand is that when they're pushing out the snow, their job is to make a path for you to simply drive through. It's not easy to go to curb to curb the first time around. It's impossible. They have
almost we had 13 inches that fell in South River. That's what was recorded. So the Department of Public Works is working almost 30 some plus hours with 20 or so guys and they're working around the clock along with the police
department that never stopped their car and just kept on going. The fire department had people sitting in that firehouse waiting just in case there was a call. So, while their families were sitting at home getting snowed in, they were at the firehouse. And the reason
I'm so angry is because social media blows it out of proportion and it gets out of hand. And you don't realize how much that the the the workers of this town really really devote themselves to you. With that said, I'm going to go on to
another social media post, and I enjoyed this one. Here's your fact. February 5th, Thursday, early in the morning, the South River Police Department, the Middle Sex County Special Operations Response Team, which is known as the
STOR team and the prosecutor's office decided to visit somebody on Burton Street because of robbery, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon, and unlawful possession of another weapon. It wasn't ICE at all. And if it was ice,
you would have seen a big word in the back of their uh Kevlar suit saying the word ice. So when you blew out everything out of proportion, you didn't realize that the law enforcement was keeping you safe. And that is a fact. And yes, I am
aggravated because social media blows it out of portion. Unfortunately, we couldn't say anything about it until the prosecutor's office actually released the information. And now we're allowed to talk about it. Water main breaks.
With this weather, you're experiencing so many water break water main breaks throughout the town. Please bear with the water department. They're doing their best to keep it under control. It's popping everywhere. It's not only here. It's throughout the whole entire
state of New Jersey. All right. Um, over last week, uh, some of us had the opportunity to experience East Brunswick's new ice skating ring that just opened up. If you know how to skate, go visit it. And last and final,
happy Valentine's Day to all you ladies. Now, we are going to go into close session. You could hang out if you like. If you like, if you we are probably going to take action. Um, so Alyssa 2026-92
>> resolution 202692 whereas section 8 of chapter 231 public law 1975 permits the exclusion of the general public from a meeting of the governing body under certain circumstances and whereas the mayor and council of the burrow of South River are of the opinion
such circumstances presently exist. Now therefore, be it is hereby resolved by the mayor and council of the burough of South River in the county of Middle Sex, state of New Jersey, that the public be excluded upon the hereafter specific subject matter, and that such subject matter to be so discussed is as follows:
personnel and property acquisition. Be it further resolved that such record of the above discussion made public when confidentiality is no longer required. The burough council of the Burough South River may or may not take formal action at the conclusion of the executive session. Do >> I have a motion? >> Motion. Motion by Council President
Danis, seconded by Councilman Demian. >> Counciloman Dilva, >> yes. >> Councilman Donado, >> yes. >> Councilman Demian, >> yes. >> Councilman Janopalis, >> yes. >> Councilman Grensky, >> yes. >> Council President Dantis, >> yes. >> Thank you. >> Do I have a motion to open?
>> Motion. I'll make a motion. >> Motion by Councilman Desantis. H sorry, Diane. >> Second. >> Second by uh Council President Dazian. Melissa, can you please, we just got out of close. Can you please read consent
resolution 202693? >> Resolution 202693 accepting Arthur Londenski's resignation in all positions effective on February 9th, 2026. >> Motion to wave the floor. Do >> I have a second? >> Second. >> Second by uh sorry. Motion by Council
President Dantis. >> Yes. >> Council member Chensky. >> Yes. >> Council President Dantis. >> Yes. Alyssa 202694. >> Resolution 202694. Resolution authorizing the termination of the employment of Charlie Heiser as a
laborer with the Burough South River Road Department. >> Motion to the full read. >> Second. Motion by Council President Desanis. Second by Council Councilman Deian. All in favor? >> I >> I
>> All right. What is your motion? >> I I make a motion. >> Motion by council pre councilman Demian. >> Second. >> Second by councilwoman Dilva. >> Councilwoman Dilva. >> Yes. >> Councilman Donado. >> Yes.
>> Councilman Demian. >> Yes. >> Councilman Janicopolis. >> Yes. >> Councilman Gchensky. >> Yes. >> Council President Dantis. >> No. Good job. >> Okay. >> All right. Thank you. This concludes our meeting tonight. Do I have an
adjournment? >> Motion to adjourn. >> Second. >> Motion by Councilman Kashinsky. Seconded by Council President Dennis. All >> in favor? Hi. >> Hi.